Overview

• CAME reported small‑business retail sales down 0.3% year over year at constant prices, with the real average ticket down 21.1% even though 87% of merchants ran special offers.
• CAIJ said toy sales fell 5.2% from 2024, with online purchases up 30% to roughly 24% of sales but a 16% decline in the traditional channel keeping the total negative.
• From January to July, toy imports jumped 84% in value and 114% in volume to 13,752 tonnes, with many shipments priced under US$3 per kilo and importers rising to 565, prompting warnings over product safety and fair competition.
• Financing weakened as card payments slipped to about 70% of operations from 90% a year ago, while the average ticket was ARS 33,736 overall and roughly ARS 13,000 in neighborhood toy stores versus ARS 38,000 in large chains.
• Footwear and leather goods led categories with 5.3% growth as bookstores fell 14.5%, and retailers cited the long weekend and cold weather for reduced foot traffic and cautious spending.